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Mountain Mommies, if you are anything like me, you might find it difficult to find time for yourself. Sure, there is the sprint to the grocery store while your spouse, babysitter or friend watches your child. Or the mad dash to restore order to the explosion that is your house while your little angel naps or finally falls asleep for the night.

It isn’t always easy to take a much-needed break to rejuvenate your mind and spirit. This summer, I committed to creating more time to recharge my batteries. It hasn’t always been easy, but I have found it to be important to my overall well-being and my ability to nurture and raise my little love with a little more grace and ease.

Lately, my sweet escape has been some incredible mountain bike rides. I’m not sure if it’s the sudden freedom or the lack of oxygen, but I have felt as though I’m enjoying our beautiful trails for the first time. (Some of which I actually am since it had been awhile since I was out and about!)

It’s as though I’m looking at all of it through a new lens with an added appreciation for the landscape, natural beauty and incredible place we call home. I have actually stopped and cried at the jaw-dropping wonder of an immense aspen grove while riding up Wild Rose Trail and laughed with glee at the bridges and varied terrain on Pioneer Ridge Trail.

I have realized that these adventures are just as important for me as they are for my child. I return mentally refreshed and grateful for the ability to enjoy such beauty. I am encouraged to nurture the same adventurous spirit in my daughter. Most of all, I am thankful that we live in a place where we value our health and fitness and are free to enjoy our incredible, natural beauty.

I encourage you to take the time to find your magic space. It’s worth it!

Caroline Lalive Carmichael moved to Steamboat with her family in 1995 and joined the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. After one season, Caroline was named to the U.S. Ski Team and competed for 13 years, attending two Olympics. After retiring in 2009, she returned to Steamboat as a coach. She and fellow Olympian Nelson Carmichael were married in 2012 and welcomed their daughter, Freya, in 2015.

It looks and feels like wintertime in the Boat, with the frosty, snow-covered trees and…

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Caroline Lalive Carmichael

Caroline Lalive Carmichael moved to Steamboat with her family in 1995 and joined the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. After one season, Caroline was named to the U.S. Ski Team and competed for 13 years, attending two Olympics. After retiring in 2009, she returned to Steamboat as a coach. She and fellow Olympian Nelson Carmichael were married in 2012 and welcomed their daughter, Freya, in 2015.